I agree, this is JA at her highest literary level even if it was published after her death. We can speculate on final edits she would have made, but my opinion rests on the depth of the plot and characterization and not the polished nature of the story-telling (although I can't see much that is unpolished either!).

The group read has just reached what I think is the central revelation of Anne's character: "... but if Anne will stay, no one so proper, so capable as Anne." In my opinion, there is also no other novel that so properly and capably shows off JA's talents.